JessSigKap's Retro UMD Recruitment

[violetpretty]

I think I wrote more about 42nd Street because my opinion of them changed from ok to great, whereas Anything Goes was more of the same, still loving them.

[susan314]

Originally Posted by JessSigKap

· My opinion of Thoroughly Modern Millie really changed during skit round. I loved them so much during philanthropy round and before recruitment, but during skit round, I felt like they were trying to sell me their chapter instead of just talk. They seemed so much less enthusiastic than other chapters. I decided I did not want to be in a chapter with low morale. I talked to Kim who lived on my hall and just pledged as a freshman. She was acting kind of weird. Then, met April, a cute girl with strawberry blonde hair flipped out and a southern accent. She was really cool. Although I liked April, I just felt odd at Thoroughly Modern Millie during this party.

/semi-hijack

Its so interesting that you say this, because I've seen smaller chapters sabotage themselves during rush with that sort of attitude. (Based on your previous comments/descriptons about Millie, I'm making the assumption that they might be a smaller and/or weaker chapter on your campus.)

Not that I'm saying that all small chapters do this - some small chapters are perfectly happy to be small and that comfort shows during rush. But, I've witnessed firsthand other chapters project almost what appears to be an inferiority complex - an attitude that says "we don't know why you'd pick us over all the other chapters, but we really hope you'll do it anyhow." It would behoove anyone recruiting from/assisting with a chapter that might have that mentality to read JessSigKap's description and realize what impression that gives a PNM - Jess was excited about them first round because she liked them, and then they sabotaged themselves by not being confident in their chapter.

/end semi-hijack

[dgdramadawg]

Yes! You still love both of my favorites!

[violetpretty]

Today (Monday) I picked up my invites. Annie is back from her retreat, although I kind of wish that LaRhonda was my real Rho Gamma. I feel pretty confident and excited.





The list:

Wicked
Thoroughly Modern Millie
Oklahoma
42nd Street
Hairspray

No Anything Goes!??!?!!!? I was upset/in shock that I wasn't prepared how to react. I guess Annie could kind of see on my face that I was upset, and when she asked me if my list was ok, I felt my throat close up and I was just like "Yeah it's fine." Since I got 5 invites, I have to choose 3 and I wasn't exactly prepared for it to happen this way. I chose 42nd Street and Wicked right away, and I had to pick one more. Definitely not Oklahoma. I was between Millie and Hairspray. I went with my gut and picked Hairspray. I figured that I because I liked Hairspray better than Millie during skits, I'd go back there.

I left the Union and went back to LaPlata. This is when I really got upset. I was so bummed about being cut from Anything Goes that I forgot all of the other ones that I liked. I called my mom and told her that I was thinking of dropping out and trying again for Anything Goes in the fall. My mom knows absolutely nothing about Greek Life, but she told me to go to preference and then decide if I want to drop out. Pretty good advice coming from someone who knows nothing about sororities! I agree with her, but I still feel unsure about 42nd Street even though they are my top choice from my remaining chapters. (I can't elaborate as to why without giving them away.)

Tuesday afternoon (preference is tonight), I called LaRhonda and told her what happened. Since she's not my actual Rho Gamma, and I doubt Annie knew why I was acting funny, I needed to fill her in. I told her how disappointed I was that I wasn't invited back to a chapter that seemed like such a good fit. I told her about my hesitation about 42nd Street too. LaRhonda said that I wouldn't fit in at Anything Goes, and that 42nd Street has a really strong sisterhood and thinks that I would fit in well there. She told me that my hesitation wouldn't make much of a difference, since it is not what a sorority is centered around.

LaRhonda was pretty honest with me, even though now I see it kind of toed the line of what a Rho Gamma should and shouldn't say. It was hard to stomach when she said that I wouldn't fit in at Anything Goes, especially when you feel such a connection and they make you feel like you are their number 1 choice. However, I felt very reassured about going to preference tonight that since I have two groups that I like a lot and one that I like ok. I think I just needed someone to remind me of that.

To recap, I will be attending for preference:

42nd Street
Wicked
Hairspray


Chapters out of the running:

Alpha Epsilon Phi
Zeta Tau Alpha
Kappa Delta
Alpha Chi Omega
Sigma Delta Tau

[dgdramadawg]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Alright, 42nd Street is still in it, though.

[susan314]

Hmmn...I think I'm rooting for Wicked now. (Mostly b/c your description of them in the first round cracked me up.)

But Hairspray could surprise us all and win you over.


(Sigh - disappointed that Millie got dropped, but that's what happens when a chapter doesn't show enough confidence in itself...)

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by susan314

/semi-hijack

Its so interesting that you say this, because I've seen smaller chapters sabotage themselves during rush with that sort of attitude. (Based on your previous comments/descriptons about Millie, I'm making the assumption that they might be a smaller and/or weaker chapter on your campus.)

Not that I'm saying that all small chapters do this - some small chapters are perfectly happy to be small and that comfort shows during rush. But, I've witnessed firsthand other chapters project almost what appears to be an inferiority complex - an attitude that says "we don't know why you'd pick us over all the other chapters, but we really hope you'll do it anyhow." It would behoove anyone recruiting from/assisting with a chapter that might have that mentality to read JessSigKap's description and realize what impression that gives a PNM - Jess was excited about them first round because she liked them, and then they sabotaged themselves by not being confident in their chapter.

/end semi-hijack

This is exactly how I felt at Millie! Thank you Susan!

[violetpretty]

Tonight (Tuesday) is preference. It still stings that I won't be going to Anything Goes, but I am still happy to be going to 42nd Street and Wicked. As I was getting ready in the bathroom, Jenni on my floor walks in and she's in her pajamas. I asked her, "Aren't you going tonight?" She said, "No, I didn't get invited back to Wicked, and that was the last one that I liked." It made me thankful that I still had ones that I liked. I am wearing a 3/4 sleeve knee length wrap dress in shades of blue, black, tan, white, and red (sounds weird but it's cute) with red mary jane heels. They aren't too high so I should be ok with the snow and the ice.

I get down to the Armory and I run into some friends from high school. My friend Danielle is preffing Anything Goes, Hello Dolly, and West Side Story. Stephanie (the one in my group) is preffing Phantom, Anything Goes, and Chicago. Although I feel jealous that Anything Goes wanted my friends and not me, I actually start to think that because they wanted them that maybe it isn't the best fit for me. (Stephanie and Danielle are VERY different from me---they were cheerleaders in high school and more the type that you'd expect to go through recruitment).

My first pref party was at Wicked. They had a sister playing a cello when we walked in. I had no idea what to expect during preference and I thought it was really cool that the sister (Morgan, from skit round!) who was preffing me walked over to announce my invitation and take me in. We had cheesecake and some other dessert goodies. Morgan and I went upstairs into her big’s room with another PNM and sister pair and I totally forgot that I was at recruitment. The four of us just hung out and talked about normal things like concerts and shows. Aside form the fact that we were all dressed very nicely, it felt like we were just hanging out and I decided that I could definitely see myself as a sister in Wicked. The ceremony was really nice, and a senior gave a speech about how she wasn’t the “sorority type” but ended up pledging and loving Wicked. I really connected with that. I decided after Wicked that I was not going to drop out. I would at least rank them.

Next, I went to 42nd Street. We must have gotten out early from Wicked’s pref because no one else was on the streets and we had to wait a while outside 42nd Street. I met a bunch of girls who were preffing the same chapters as me. Kelly (from philanthropy round) preffed me at 42nd Street. I was so excited to see her there. Sarah (my favorite from skit round) came up to talk to me during pref too. I was so happy to see that not one, but two sisters wanted me to be a part of their sisterhood. The conversation felt so natural and sincere. The ceremony was really special. I even got a little misty eyed. They had this traveling poem where maybe like 8 sisters read a part of a poem, but it travels around the room. I could see that the sisterhood was really strong like LaRhonda had said. I was completely sold.

My last party of the night was Hairspray. This pref was much different from the other two. For starters, I was one of the last girls to be asked inside, and I was paired with a girl named Laura, whom I had NOT met before. Needless to say, it was very “unspecial” to be having the “what’s your major” conversation during pref night with a new face. I did talk to this girl Wendy who I saw in their skit by butting into her conversation. What a stupid PNM I was! She was talking about the skit and how some people made fun of her part, saying that she was too bouncy and perky. I, being a drama person, assured her that she did a great job and that you shouldn’t hold back because you are afraid what people will think. When I got back to talking with Laura, she told me that another sister had accidentally set a PNM’s hair on fire during the first party. Just what I wanted to know! Once we went to the ceremony, (PNMs were seated with standing Hairspray sisters behind them with lit candles in hand) I sat on the edge and leaned far forward so she would not set my hair on fire, because somehow, I was worried that she would set my hair on fire even though she hadn't. After Hairspray’s pref, I concluded that they were my last choice of the three. I figured if they had really wanted me in their chapter, someone who I had previously met would have wanted to pref me and maybe a connection would have been made.

Then we trekked back to the Armory to sign our preference cards...

[susan314]

Hmmn...I'm torn. I've been rooting for Wicked somewhat all along, but you seemed to have a wonderful experience at 42nd Street's party too.

I suppose it doesn't really matter as long as you end up in one of them. How wonderful that you still have 2 chapters you feel a strong connection to after Preference.

[Drolefille]

OK, I think I can guess now

I had the "get preffed by someone you've never met" experience. It was really disconcerting, particularly when Sigma Kappa's was so different from that. It really really throws off your opinion of a chapter. I understand it's necessary sometimes, but I'd rather have someone who at least met me. Or maybe someone who can sell the "I really wanted to meet you, everyone else told me so much about you" line.

[Leslie Anne]

Go 42nd Street!!!

Originally Posted by JessSigKap

I got back to talking with Laura, she told me that she had accidentally set a PNM’s hair on fire during the first party. Just what I wanted to know! I sat on the edge and leaned far forward so she would not set my hair on fire. I’m sure she was being very careful after her first mistake, but I still had visions of singed hair.

Nothing warms the heart during a Preference party like the thought of spontaneous combustion!

[MaggieXi]

I am rooting for wicked just cuz I love the book!!!!

I can't believe your preffer set a girls hair on fire! How horrible for the pnm!!

[AnatraAmore]

Can you imagine going to the next pref party with slightly burnt hair? Eeek! What a story to tell down the road though! Especially if she were to pledge that chapter!

[FSUZeta]

well, we all know how flammable hairspray is!!

what a shame that your hostess shared that little bit of info. with you. that would have been uppermost on my mind and i am afraid that i wouldn't have gotten much out of their ceremony, being too worried about a repeat performance by the hostess!

[dgdramadawg]

I'm still rooting for 42nd Street... but it could be Wicked... TELL US NOW!!!